Swing Training Device

ABSTRACT

A tethered swing training device that attaches to one or more cords. The cords, at ends opposite to the swing training device may be elastic and anchored to a fixed object or attached to a pulley and weight system. The swing training device includes cutouts and engagement members that are recessed within the cutouts. The engagement members allow for attachment of a cord to provide resistance for training and warm-up exercises.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to exercise devices and, inparticular embodiments, to swing training and warm-up devices useful forbaseball and other sports.

BACKGROUND

A variety of swing training and warm-up devices are known in the fieldfor baseball and golf. Furthermore, it is desirable to warm-up prior toone's turn at-bat. Typically, the only place a batter can warm up beforean at-bat is in the on deck circle. Normally, the dugout is not a largeenough area to safely swing a bat for the purposes of warming up beforea turn at bat. Furthermore, some league rules do not allow a player towarm-up outside the dugout before his/her turn at bat.

Recently, it has been determined that warming up with weighted bats ortwo or more bats is counter productive to the “fast twitch ” musclesnecessary to react to fast-pitched balls, because swinging of the heavybat causes body mechanics to be out of balance when swinging theheavier-than-normal bat. Warming up with resistance tubing attached to abaseball bat handle can warm up the “fast twitch ” muscles specificallywithout negatively affecting your body swing mechanics.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides methods, apparatuses and systems directedto a tethered swing training device that attaches to one or more cords.The cords, at ends opposite to the swing training device may be elasticand anchored to a fixed object, or non-elastic and attached to a pulleyand weight system. The swing training device includes one or morecutouts and engagement members that are recessed within the cutouts. Theengagement members allow for attachment of a cord to provide resistancefor training and warm-up exercises. As discussed below, the cutouts andengagement members recessed within the cutouts provide aesthetic,mechanical and safety advantages over known swing training devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1D are perspective diagrams illustrating an example swingtraining device, according to one embodiment of the invention, fromdifferent views.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective, exploded views of the example swingtraining device.

FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the example swing training device; FIG. 3Bis a side, sectional view of the example swing training device; andFIGS. 3C and 3D are perspective detail views illustrating features ofthe inner surfaces and components of the example swing training device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cutaway view of the example swing training deviceillustrating the configuration of the cutouts and engagement members.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing attachment of the example swingtraining device to an anchor point.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating use of the example swingtraining device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of theinventive swing training device.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of another embodiment of the swingtraining device.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1A to 1D provide perspective views of swing training device 50from various viewing angles. As FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrate, swingtraining device 50 includes a handle portion 52 and a cord attachmentportion 54 extending from the handle portion. Cord attachment portion 54has a major surface 55 that, in a particular embodiment, is generallycylindrical in shape. The handle portion 52 and cord attachment portion54 can be configured to have the overall shape of a baseball bat, as thevarious Figures illustrate. As FIGS. 1A and 1B show, cord attachmentportion 54 further includes cutouts 65 to accommodate cord engagementmembers 60 recessed within the cutouts 65.

FIGS. 2A and 2B demonstrate that swing training device 50, in someembodiments, may comprise a first elongated half member 56 and a secondelongated half member 58 that combine to create the device. FIGS. 2A and2B also illustrate how swing training device 50 is assembled using bolts62 and nuts 64. Either one of first elongated half member 56 or secondelongated half member 58 may include recessed bores that are contouredto engage nut 64 to prevent it from rotating as bolt is tightened tocomplete the assembly. First elongated half member 56 and secondelongated half member 58 may be plastic components that are injectionmolded. First elongated half member 56 comprises outer surface 81 andinner surface 83. Second elongated half member 58 comprises outersurface 82 and inner surface 84. First elongated half member 56 furtherincludes cutout portions 66 a, while second elongated half member 58includes cutout portions 66 b. Furthermore, FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3B and 3Ctogether show that one or both of first elongated half member 56 andsecond elongated half member 58 include attachment features 67 extendingfrom inner surfaces 83, 84, respectively, that engage engagement members60. As FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate, attachment features 67, in oneparticular embodiment, generally conform to the inner lower profile ofrespective engagement members 60. In one implementation, attachmentfeatures 67 may extend only from one of first elongated half member 56or second elongated half member 58. In other embodiments, attachmentfeatures 67 may extend from both first elongated half member 56 andsecond elongated half member 58 and mate together to engage engagementmembers 60.

Engagement members 60 may be closed structures, such as circular rings,polygons or free-form shapes. In one embodiment, engagement members 60may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum and the like. Inother embodiments, the engagement members 60 may be made of plastic. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1D, 3B and 3C, engagementmembers 60 have a substantially straight lower section, opposingsections that extend perpendicularly at opposite ends of the straightlower section, and an upper curved portion that extends within thecutouts 65 when swing training device 50 is assembled. Engagementmembers 60 may take many forms, such as open structures. For example,the straight lower section of engagement member 60 illustrated in FIG.3B may include a break or gap. Additionally, FIG. 7 shows a unitaryengagement member 61 that is configured to present three engagementpoints at cutouts 65 when swing training device 50 is assembled. Stillfurther, as FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate, cutout portions 66 a, 66 b eachinclude semi-circular cutouts 69 a, 69 b (respectively) to createcorresponding holes in cutouts 65 that accommodate engagement members 60when first elongated half member 56 and second elongated half member 58are coupled together.

FIG. 4 illustrates how engagement members 60 extend within cutouts 65 topresent engagement points. Lines 89 illustrate extended surfaces in theregions over cutouts 65. In other words, cord attachment portion 54includes a major surface 55 that substantially defines the overall shapeof portion 54, such as being generally cylindrical or some other shape.The extended surfaces can be conceptualized as virtual surfaces thatwould have been physically realized, but for cutouts 65. As FIG. 4shows, the engagement members 60 are configured to extend over thecutouts 65 and within the extended surfaces corresponding to the cutouts65.

FIG. 5 demonstrates how swing training device 50 may be utilized inconnection with cord 70. Cord 70, in one embodiment, is an elasticmember that includes clips 72, 74 at opposite ends. For example, cord 70can be a rubber band or tube, or bungee material. FIG. 5 shows that clip74 may attach to swing training device 50 at one of the engagementmembers 60, while clip 72 may attach to an anchor point, such as a fence(such as those typically found in a youth sports or little league dugout. A user may use any of the available engagement members 60 asdesired to experience different moments and forces during use of thedevice. Still further, additional cords 70 can be used (attached atother engagement members 60) to increase the force experienced by theuser. Clips 72, 74 on both ends of the cord 70 allow the hitter toquickly adjust the force by changing the moment resulting from attachingthe stretch tubing either further away or closer to the hands of thehitter. Clips on both ends of the cord 70 also allow the anchor end ofthe cord 70 to be quickly attached to different heights to accommodatethe height of the player or the type of swing desired for a warm-upsession.

The configuration of the cutouts 65 and engagement members 60 providesboth aesthetic and safety advantages to known swing training devices.For example, the cutouts 65 and recessed engagement members 60 allow theoverall shape of the swing training device 50 to more closely resemble abaseball bat, thereby increasing its appeal to consumers. Furthermore,recessing the engagement members 60 also provides safety advantages inthat the engagement members 60 do not extend substantially beyond theoverall surface contour of the swing training device 50. Otherinventions use metal rings that are outside the surface of the batmaking injury more possible. If the bat is not held firmly and isallowed to recoil back and hit the user any external protrusion couldcause a higher impact point force. Having the engagement members 60 atapproximately the same outer surface of the bat decreases the chance ofinjury caused by accidental recoil of the bat. Should the bat recoilback and hit the user with the engagement members 60 recessed to themajor surface of the bat, the impact will be spread over a greatersurface area and therefore the impact force will be lower. In addition,recessing engagement members 60 also reduces the moment or rotationalforces, relative to a device where the cord 70 would attach further fromthe center line of the swing training device 50, that a user wouldexperience when attempting to rotate his or her wrists during a practiceswing or motion.

FIG. 6 demonstrates how a user may employ the device for training,warm-up and/or exercise purposes. When warming up with heavy bats, theadded weight tends to pull and push a user's body around as a result ofthe heavy weight swinging. This has been proved to be counter productiveto training the body for the correct swing mechanics and reinforcesincorrect swing mechanics. By swinging a bat with resistance tubing theuser is working the correct swing mechanics and not reinforcing motionsinappropriate for good bat swing. Clips 72, 74 on both ends of thestretch tubing allow for quick and easy attach and detach to either theswing training device 60 and/or a fence or other anchor point. Forexample, the anchor point may comprise one or more eyelets of a strapthat is wrapped around a poll or tree. Stronger hitters may want thecord 70 to be attached closer to the end of the bat to increase theresistance force to the user. Weaker hitters may want the cord 70attached closer to the hand area to create a smaller moment and resultin less force needed to warm up. Taller hitters may want to attach theopposite end of the cord 70 higher on the fence, while shorter hittersmay want to attach the cord at a lower point based on their height. If apitcher is throwing curve balls, the hitter may want to warm up withmore of an upper cut in order to hit the curve ball. This may requirepositioning the end of the cord 70 lower on the fence for warming up anupper-cut swing. In addition, if the pitcher is throwing mostly fastballs, the hitter may want to warm up with a more level swing or aslightly downward swing, the position of cord 70 can be easily andquickly adjusted for this situation using the clips 72, 74.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an alternative embodiment of the swingtraining device. In the embodiment shown, swing training device 150includes a single, large cutout 165 within the cord attachment portion154. Engagement members 161 extend within the cutout 165 to presentfeatures to which a cord 70 can attach. In contrast to the embodimentsdescribed above, engagement members 161 extend perpendicularly relativeto the central or main axis of the swing training device. In theembodiment shown, engagement members 161 are attached to cord attachment154 at holes 170.

The present invention has been explained with reference to specificembodiments. For example, while embodiments of the present inventionhave been described as operating in connection with an elastic cord, thepresent invention can be used in connection with a weight and pulleysystem or any other mechanism that can provide desired mechanicalresistance. Other embodiments will be evident to those of ordinary skillin the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention belimited, except as indicated by the appended claims.

1. A swing training device, comprising: an elongated member having ahandle portion and a cord attachment portion extending from the handleportion; the cord attachment portion having a major surface and one ormore cut-outs; and one or more cord engaging members attached to thecord attachment portion and recessed within corresponding cutouts of theone or more cutouts, wherein the cord engaging members are confinedwithin corresponding extended surface areas of the one or more cutouts.2. The swing training device of claim 1 wherein the elongated member hasa bat-like shape.
 3. The swing training device of claim 1 furthercomprising an elastic cord including first and second clips attached atopposing ends of the elastic cord.
 4. The swing training device of claim3 further comprising a second elastic cord including first and secondclips attached at opposing ends of the second elastic cord.
 5. The swingtraining device of claim 1 wherein the one or more cord engaging membersare semi-circular in profile in regions extending through the one ormore corresponding cutouts.
 6. The swing training device of claim 1wherein the handle portion has a narrower profile than the cordattachment portion.
 7. The swing training device of claim 1 wherein thecord attachment portion has a substantially cylindrical profile.
 8. Theswing training device of claim 1 wherein two or more of the cordengaging members corresponding to a first cut-out of the one or morecut-outs.
 9. The swing training device of claim 8 wherein two or more ofthe cord engaging members extend perpendicularly to a central axis ofthe cord attachment portion.
 10. A swing training device, comprising: afirst elongated half member having a first outer surface and an innersurface, wherein the first elongated half member includes a firstcut-out portion; a second elongated half member having a second outersurface and an inner surface, wherein the second elongated half memberincludes a second cut-out portion and is physically configured to attachto the first elongated half member thereby creating an elongated memberhaving a handle portion and a cord attachment portion; the cordattachment portion having a major surface defined by the first andsecond outer surfaces and a cut-out defined by the first and secondcut-out portions; and a cord engaging member engaged at the innersurface of the first elongated half member and extending within the areadefined by the first cut-out portion.
 11. The swing training device ofclaim 10 wherein the first elongated half member comprises a one or morefeatures extending from the inner surface; wherein the cord engagingmember is engaged by the one or more features.
 12. The swing trainingdevice of claim 11 wherein the cord engaging member comprises aring-shaped member, and wherein the one or more features are configuredto engage the ring-shaped member.
 13. The swing training device of claim10 wherein the elongated member has a bat-like shape.
 14. The swingtraining device of claim 10 further comprising an elastic cord includingfirst and second clips attached at opposing ends of the elastic cord.15. The swing training device of claim 10 wherein the one or more cordengaging members are semi-circular in profile in regions extendingthrough the one or more corresponding cutouts.
 16. The swing trainingdevice of claim 10 wherein the handle portion has a narrower profilethan the cord attachment portion.
 17. The swing training device of claim10 wherein the cord attachment portion has a substantially cylindricalprofile.
 18. A swing training device resembling a baseball bat,comprising: a handle portion, and a bat portion extending from thehandle portion; wherein the bat portion includes a major surface, and acutout defining an extended surface substantially continuous with themajor surface; and a ring engaged in the bat portion, wherein a segmentof the ring extends through the cutout, and wherein the segment isrecessed within the cutout portion confined by the extended surface. 19.The swing training device of claim 18 further comprising an elastic cordincluding first and second clips attached at opposing ends of theelastic cord.